Controller.



No. 878,756. PATENTE-D FEB. 11, 1908.

W. J. WARDER, JR.

CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 878,756. I PATENTBD PEB.11, 1908. W. J. WARDER, JR.

CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1907.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT Z.

' part shown in Fig. 3. I

In Fig. 1, the pedestal 1 incloses the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. WARDER, In, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoR TO ROTH Bnos, orCHICAGO,

' ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed May 13. 1907. Serial No. 373.466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. WARDER, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inControllers, of

which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofstarting or speed-controlling rheostat for electric motors, that may besafely intrusted to carelessor inexperienced operators without danger ofinjury to the motor when starting the same and without danger of burningthe rheostat contacts by arcing as when the controller arm stops inpositions between successive contacts; to provide simple mechanismwhereby an improved starter or controller of this character may beoperated from a moderate distance as easily as by direct manipulation;to provide an improved form of releasing mechanism adapted to instantlyreturn the controller arm to its off or initial position when there isno voltage" in the motor Circuit, and toprovide simple mechanism forimparting a step by step movement to the controller arm and adapted wheninactive to assume a position permitting the free return of thecontroller arm to its off position, through the action of such novoltage release. These objects are ac complished by the devices shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a controller constructed according to thisinvention and provided with an operating pedal, the motor being mountedon a pedestal inclosing the controller box. Fig. 2-is a diagram of theelectrical connections of the controller and motor. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the mechanical part of the controller. Fig. 4 is a sideview of same, looking -in the direction of arrow a in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa detail of a rheostatand also provides a sup ort for the motor 2. Theplate 3 is provide with a series of Contact buttons 4, having connectionwith the rheostat "elements in any desirable manner.

5 is the movable controller-member, which makes contact with successivebuttons 4. 6 is a catch for holding said controller-mem her in Contactwith any one of the buttons 4 until released as hereinafter described.

7 is an actuating member arranged to be oscillated by the operator andto impart-a step-by-ste element, w ich thus rests for a short intervalupon each contact-button successively when starting the motor. I

8 is a mechanical trip or throw-off, adapted to disengage the catch 6from the ratchet sector 12 to permit the controller-member to be thrownback to starting position by its spring 13. The actuating member 7 has alimited stroke of a certain normal length, butis capable of a shortadditional backward movement. When forced back by the operator so as todescribe this extra movement, the member 7 causes the tri 8 to act on alever 11 that carries the catc i 6, with the result hereinbefore stated.

9 is an electro magnet which is desirably employed for holding the catch6 in operative Contact with the ratchet 12 while the controller-elementis on any of the live contact buttons 4.

10 is a short-circuiting device for denergizing or weakening the pull ofthe magnet 9 when the operator desires to stop. the motor. extramovement of the member 7 that trips the pawllever 11. By the action ofthe deenergizing device the trip does not have to overcome theattraction of the magnet 9.

In the construction shown, the controllermember is in the form of an arm5, pivoted on a stud 14, and urged toward oil position by a spring 13.Said arm Carries the Contact shoe l5 and is provided with a detent pawl16, pivoted at 17 and urged to an extended position by a spring 18. Astop 19 prevents the pawl from swinging in one direction from theposition shown. The hub 5 of the arm 5 is provided with a sector havingratchet teeth 12.

The actuating arm 7 is mounted to oscillate upon a stud 20, and carriesat its outer end a curved ratchet 21, the teeth 22 of which face towardthe pawl 16 and are adapted to engage the same when said arm is movedforward. The position of the controller-arm 5 at the time, determineswhich of the teeth 22 will engage the pawl thereof. This operation isdue to the relative positions of the pivots 20 and 14. The path ofmovement of any tooth 22 is along but not parallel with that of the pawl16. When the arm 7 is moved to the right or forward, the teeth 22movement to the controller-- with a handle.

by a lug '29.

move inwardly toward the path of the pawl 16, fihough' in a generaldirection along said p The arrangement of the teeth is such that theystand at equal distances from the center of rotationpf the controllerarm 5 when the part which carries said teeth isin its normal position(as shown). The result of this construction is hereinafter described.

The first tooth 22. is made sufficiently long to e age the pawl 16 whenthe arm 7 is in its initi position.

' The ratchet 21,.or arm 7, may be provided But in cases where it isdes'irable to o crate the controller from a distance, a pe al lever 23is set u at the desired point and is connected to sai arm-b a rod 24.The lever 23 as shown is mounte on the floor and is in the form of abell-crank provided with pedals 25 and 41. The actuating member 7 1surged toward its normal position by a spring 26, which thereforeactuates the connecting rod 24 in one direction; so that, excepting ashereinafter described, the operator has only to move the lever 23 in onedirection. g 1

The forward stroke of the arm 7 is limited by a stop 27, rigidly held bythe plate 3. The backward stroke of said arm is normally limited by a sring stop 28 which is struck This spring is adjustable so as to balancethe spring 26 when the shoe is on the off button.

The holding magnet 9 has ole pieces 30 and the lever 11, or at least t eupper art thereof, is made of soft iron. The hol 'ng pawl 6 ispreferably a spring mounted upon this lever. I

The trip or throw-off, 8, is carried by the arm7, and is so arran edthat by movin about the pivot 20, it l disengage the paw 6 fromthe teeth12. e

The deenergizing device 10 comprises a pair of spring contact iecesnormally out of contact with and insu ated from each other.

The arm 7 carries a button 32, of insulating material, held in positionto bring the parts 10 into contact with each other when the hereinbeforementioned extra backward movement is imparted to said arm. The members10 are connected by taps 33 to the respective leads of the magnet. Oneof the magnet leads is connected to the first or lowest-speed button 4,and the other lead is connected to the motor by wire 34. The other motorterminals are connected to the last contact button at 35 and to theswitch 86,

by wires 37'and 38 respectively. From the other pole of the switch awire 39 leads to the controller-arm 5.

' The operation of thecontroller when constructed as shown is asfollows: .The arm 5 bein normally at oii position, the operator epressesthe edal 25 'a number of times, it being lifte after each depression'tOI' 12.

tor wishes to stop the motor.

starts 7 by the spring 26 of arm 7. If the device is a starting box thelever 25 is operated until the motor has attained its full speed, thearm 5 stopping on the last button. running rheostat is provided, thecontrollerarm may be stopped on any intermediate button for getting therequired speed of the motor. As soon as the arm 5 touches the first livebutton 4, the magnet 9 is ener 'zed and draws up the lever 11, therebyho ding the pawl 6 in engagement with ratchet sec The controllerarm isthus held against backward movement until the opera- To stop the motor,the opprator pressesthe foot-piece 41, therebypus 'ng on the connectingrod 24, and moving the arm 7 to the left against the spring 28. Thismovement also causes the contact circuit t e magnet 9, andsimultaneously causes the trip 8 to move lever 11 and throw ofl the awl6. The teeth of the ratchet 12 are pre erably of such form that the pawl6 will not hold the arm 5 when there is no volta e on account of openingthe main switc 36 or otherwise, but the mechanical trip 8 is alsoprovided to prevent the possibihty of the catch holding on account ofresidual magnetism after the current is cut ofl. The firing 13 throwsthe controllerarm5quic yback to off position. During the operation ofthe actuating member 7, in starting the motor, the tooth 22 will be thefirst one to engage the pawl 16; on the back stroke said pawl will yieldto let the second tooth pass. On the next forward stroke the secondtooth will engage the pawl, which will then yield to let the third toothpass on the return stroke, and so on until the arm 5 has been stepped upto the desired position. When this arm is released, it will fly backwithout the pawl touching any of the teeth 22, owing to the fact thatthe points of all said teeth lie beyond the path of the tip .of saidpawl when the arm 7 is at normal position.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

If a.

ieces 10 to engage so as to short-.

1. In a starter or controller for 'electric motors, the combination of amovable controller member, a movable actuating member adapted to shiftsaidcontroller member in one direction by'its normal stroke and havincapab e of extra movement at the end of its normal return stroke, meansfor holding said controller member in difl erent positions, and

a normal return stroke and beingsitions, an operating member located ata distance from the controller member and connected with said actuatingmember for moving it, and means actuated by said operating member forreturning said con troller member to its initial position.

3. The combination with a motor controller comprising a pivotedcontroller-arm, a movable actuating member adapted thro h a back andforth movement .to advance the controller-arm to successive positions,of an operating member located as a distance from the controller, aconnection between said operating member and said movable member, andmeans adapted to return said controller-arm to its imtial positionthrough a certain movement of said operating member.

4. In a starter or controller for electric motors, a pivotedcontroller-element, aswinging actuating-arm rovided with means formoving the control er element when moved in one direction, said'meansbeing normally inoperative in the reverse direction, mechanical meansfor swinging the actuating+arm to and fro, and means for returnin thecontroller element to a certain initia position through a certainmovement of said actuating-arm.

5. In a starter or controller for electric motors, a pivotedcontroller-element, aswinging actuating-arm rovided with means formoving the control er element when moved in one direction, said meansbeing normally ino erative in the reverse direction, means for oldingthe controller-element in difierent positions, mechanical means forswinging the actuating-arm to and fro, and means for returning thecontroller-element -to a certain initial position through a certainmovement of said actuating-arm.

6. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of apivoted controllerarm, a pivoted actuating arm adapted to shift thecontroller-arm in one direction, means for holding the controller-arm indifferent positions during the return move .ment of the actuating arm,and means for releasing said holding means through a certain movement ofsaid actuating arm.

7. In a starter or controller for electric mo- 7 tors, the combinationof a pivoted controllerarm, a pivoted actuating arm adapted to shift thecontroller-arm in one direction, electro-magnetic means for holding thecontroller-arm in different positions during the return movement of theactuating arm, and means for releasing said holding means through acertain movement of said actuat ing arm.

8. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of amovable controller member normally urged toward. a certain initialposition, a movable actuating member adapted to shift saidcontrollermember in one direction and having a normal return stroke andbeing capable of extra movement at the end of its normal return stroke,means for holding said controllermember in different positions, andmeans actuated through said extra movement for releasing said holdingmeans.

9. In a starter or controller for electric motors the combination of apivoted controllerarm, a movable member adapted to shift said arm in onedirection, and adapted to move in the reverse direction without shiftingsaid arm, yielding means normally limiting the return stroke of saidmember, means for holding the controller-arm in different positions, andmeans actuated by movement of said member against said yielding meansfor releasing said holding means. h

a '10. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combinationof a pivoted controller-arm, provided with a pawl, an actuating armprovided with a series of projections adapted to successively engagesaid pawl through successive backward and forward movements of saidactuating arm and thereby advance the controller-armin one directiononly, and means for holding said controller-arm in different positions.

11. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of apivoted controller-arm, provided with a pawl, an actuating arm providedwith a series of projections adapted to successively engage said pawlthrough successive backward and forward movements of said actuating arm,and thereby advance the controller-arm in one direction only, saidactuating arm having a normal return stroke and being capable of extramovement at the end of its normal return stroke, means for holding thecontroller-arm in different positions, and means actuated by said extramovement of the actuating arm for releasing said holding means.

12. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of apivoted controller-arm, a movable member adapted to shift said arm whenmoved in one direction and to pass without moving said arm in thereverse direction, said member having a normal return stroke and beingcapable of continued movement beyond its normal return stroke, a catchfor holding said arm in different positions, an electro magnet for holding said catch in operative position, and means actuated by saidcontinued movement of said actuating member for de'e'nergizing saidmagnet and releasing the controller-arm.

13. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of acontroller-arm having a pivot; an actuating arm having a pivot saidpivots being out of axial alinement; said actuating arm being movable toand fro; a curved ratchet carried by said actuating arm, the teeth ofsaid ratchet being substantially equi-distant from the first pivot whenthe actuating arm is in its normal position; thecontroller-arm beingprovided with a pawl adapted to be engaged b said teeth successivelywhereby the controllbr-arm ma be advanced to successive positions byosci lations of the actuatingarm, and free to return tofo position whentheactuating arm is in its normal position.

14. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of aseries of contact points, a controller-element movable along saidcontact points, a movable actuating member adapted by to-and-fro mov e-.

ment to advance said controller-element to successive positions,- saidcontroller element controlling the speed of the motor, means for holdingthe controller element in each of said successive positions duringreturn movemen-ts of the actuating member, and means actuated throu h acertain movement of said actuating memier for releasing said holdingmeans. i

sive positions when moved back and forth,

means for holding the controller-element in each of its successivepositions during backward movements of the actuating member,

and 'means actuated by moving the actuating member and yielding stopbackward, for permitting the controller-element to return to its initialposition.

16. In a starter oricontroller for electric motors, the combination of apivoted controller arm, a pivoted actuating arm, one of said arms havingthereon.a pawl, the other of said arms having thereon a series ofratchet teeth adapted to successively engage said pawl throughsuccessive backward and forward movements of said actuating arm andthereby advance said controller arm to successive positions, said pawlbeing adapted to yield to permit the return movement of said actuatingarm without shifting said controller arm, and means for holding saidcontroller-arm in its successive positions, and adapted to be releasedby a certain movement of said actuating arm.

17; In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of apivoted con-" troller arm, a pivoted actuating arm, one of said armshaving thereon a pawl, the other of said arms having thereon a series ofratchet teeth adapted to successively engage said pawl throughsuccessive backward and forward movements of said actuating arm andthereby advance said controller arm to suc-' cessive positions, saidpawl being adapted to yield to permit the return movement of saidactuating arm without shifting said controller arm, said arms beingpivoted on separate axes and said actuating arm being arranged to swingto such position as to permit said controller arm to swing freely to itsinitial position without engagement of said pawl and ratchet teeth. a

. 18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movablecontroller member, a movable actuating member adapted through a backwardand forward movement to advance said controller member, one of saidmembers having thereon a series of teeth and the other member havingthereon a detent to resist relative movement of said members in onedirection and freely permit such relative movement in theoppositedirection, the respective paths of movement of said detent andratchet teeth being at an angle to each other, whereby when saidactuating member is in a certain position, said controller member willbe free to return to its initial position without resistance by saiddetent and ratchet teeth.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of a seriesof'contact points, a controller member movable into contact withsuccessive contactpoints, an actuating member adapted through forwardand backward movement to advance said controller member along saidseries of contact points, a catch adapted to hold said controller memberat each of saidcontact points during the return movement of saidactuating member, an electro magnet adapted to hold said catch inposition for holding said controller member against return movement andadapted when denergized to release said catch and permit saidmember toreturn to its initial position, and means normally urging saidcontroller member toward such initial position.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a series ofcontact points, a controller member movable into contact with successivecontactpoints, an actuating member adapted through forward and backwardvmovement to advance said controller member along said series of contactpoints, a catch adapted to hold said controller member at each of saidcontact points during the-return movement of said actuating member, anelectro magnet adapted to hold said catch into position for holding saidcontroller member against return movement and adapted when denergized'vto release said catch and permit said member to return to its,initialposition, means normally urging said controller member toward suchinitial position,

and a shunt circuit short-circuiting thewindings of said magnet andadapted to be closed through a certain movement of said actuating memberfor deenergizing the magnet and releasing' the catch.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movablecontroller member adapted to vary a resistance, an actuating memberadapted by repeated movements to advance said controller member step bystep, and means actuated by a certain movement of said actuating memberfor causing said controller member to return to its initial position.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movablecontroller member adapted to vary a resistance, a recipro-.

cative member adapted by reciprocation to advance said controller memberstep by step, and means actuated by a certain movement of said actuatingmember for causin said controller member to return to its initiaposition.

23. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of amovable controller member, a movable actuating member adapted throughrepeated movements to shift sald controller member step by step in onedirection, means for holding said controller member in its successivepositions,

said actuating member being movable to a position clear of the path ofsaid controller member and means adapted to release said holding'meansthrough the act of moving said actuating member to such position clearof said path.

24. In a starter or controller for electric motors, the combination of aline-circuit, a movable controller member, a movable actuating memberadapted throu h repeated movements to shift said contrfiler member stepby step in one direction, and m etic means for holding said controllermem er in difierent positions and adapted through a drop in the volta ein the line circuit to re lease said control er member,

Signed at Chicago this 8th day ofMay, 1907.

WALTER J. WARDER, JR.

Witnesses:

GERTRUDE L. YORKES, EUGENE A. RUMMLER.

